SAIC La Jolla has moved into the lead overnight and are now holding a 14 mile advantage over second place BP Explorer. The top seven yachts are more spread out now, but still within 30 miles of each other and with a new weather system impacting on the fleet, two distinct packs are emerging.

A westerly pack is forming closer to the rhumb line whilst two yachts, first place SAIC La Jolla and fourth place BG SPIRIT are further east.

This split will be no doubt causing headaches for onboard tacticians as they decide which course will help them make best speed for Boston, USA. For David MELVILLE (GBR), skipper of overall leading yacht BP Explorer, covering rivals Spirit of Sark and BG SPIRIT is a key concern, 'The two boats are rarely in the same place at the same time and as a result present a continual headache to us. Where best to place yourself to cover two boats 80 miles apart?'

'What I would really like is a fast-forward button,' MELVILLE continues. 'Let's skip all the waiting and agonising and find out what happens at the end. That way we could all just sit back and relax. In the absence of that I must wait six hours at a time to see who is a winner and who the loser.'

The current southerly wind is set to veer to the south west, then veer again to the north northwest and later go very light. 'This predicted scenario will favour the westerly yachts,' says Challenge Business Sailing Manager Cal TOMLINSON. 'So I will take a punt and say look out for big gains over the next three days for VAIO, Spirit of Sark, Team Stelmar, BP Explorer and Barclays Adventurer. This will be at the expense of SAIC La Jolla and BG SPIRIT who have strayed a little far from the Great Circle Route in the hope of finding tail winds on the eastern side of a Low Pressure System currently in their path. The next two to three or even four days will probably be a significant period in determining the outcome of this leg - critical mass time.'

Meanwhile, the teams bringing up the rear of the fleet are struggling and have all lost a significant amount of ground overnight in an area of very light winds, which unfortunately for them, looks set to hamper them a while longer. Imagine It. Done. skipper Dee CAFFARI (GBR) wrote, 'For all the mileage we have been covering daily we had a harsh reality check yesterday. The wind speeds dropped to less than ten knots, which wouldn't even cause a ripple with our Challenge Class Flag, let alone push a 45 tonne steel Challenge yacht downwind.'

Despite this current setback for some of the teams, this leg looks set to be one of the fastest on record, as Global Challenge Project Director Andrew ROBERTS comments, 'With less than 2000 miles to go, the first yacht's VMG (velocity made good) is currently 9.03 knots and the last yacht 8.55 knots which is amazing after three weeks at sea and equates to well over 1,500 miles a week.' If this pace continues, the first arrivals could be crossing the finish line in Boston towards the middle of next week.

Tom Burton (AUS) and Alison Young (GBR) hit the right note in the Laser and Laser Radial at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as they took out the top honours and qualification spots to the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final.

It was double Australian gold in the Paralympic classes. Matt Bugg (AUS) came out on top in the 2.4mR whilst London 2012 Paralympic SKUD18 gold medallists Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch (AUS) were triumphant in the two person keelboat.

Lithuania's Juozas Bernotas came out on top in the Men's RS:X whilst Russia's Stefania Elfutina was triumphant in the Women's RS:X. Both sailors claim the first Abu Dhabi ISAF Sailing World Cup Final spots whilst Jock Calvert (AUS) and Joanna Sterling (AUS) picked up the Oceanic spots for the Emirati finale.

There was some fast paced action in the 49er and 49erFX Medal Races at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as Nathan Outteridge & Iain Jensen (AUS) and Maia & Ragna Agerup (NOR) claimed the honours and Abu Dhabi final spots.

A tight group of five young Papua New Guinean (PNG) Laser sailors are stepping up their 2015 Pacific Games competition program using this week's ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne. PNG is one of 33 countries represented at the important Oceanic event, the largest Olympic sailing regatta in the southern hemisphere.

Nicolai Sehested (DEN) and his TREFOR Match Racing Team clinched victory today at the Energa Sopot Match Race, Poland, the 10th stage and World Championship Event of the 2015 World Match Racing Tour (WMRT).

There was no stopping current, and five-time ISAF Match Racing World Champion Ian Williams (GBR), GAC Pindar today at the Energa Sopot Match Race as he swiftly dispatched his Quarter Final opponent Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) in three straight wins.

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) continues to address concerns and is taking steps to ensure the health and safety of all athletes who will be competing in the upcoming Aquece Rio, Olympic Test Event and the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition.

Veteran Polish match racer and America's Cup helmsman Karol Jablonski skilfully played the gusty conditions today to lead the twelve strong field of teams at the end of Day 2 of Qualifying at the 2015 Energa Sopot Match Race.